A new low in Florida: Antisemitic campaign in the primaries
Internet personality Dan Bilzerian launched an antisemitic campaign against Congressman Randy Fine, using slurs and Nazi-era rhetoric. The video included a provocative question: "Should we re-examine the views of the Austrian painter?"
The Republican primary election in Florida's 6th District reached a new low this week when internet personality and candidate Dan Bilzerian launched a blatant antisemitic campaign against his opponent, the incumbent Congressman Randy Fine. According to reports in the "New York Post" and "ABC News," the attack led to a rare bipartisan condemnation from Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
At the center of the storm is a propaganda video published by Bilzerian, in which he calls Fine a "fat Jew," "Shylock," and "satanic scum." The video combined images of the Israeli flag, used artificial intelligence to distort Fine's appearance, and depicted him hugging a bag full of money while describing him as an advocate for "Jewish supremacy." Additionally, the video included a clip of Adolf Hitler, in which the narrator asks:
"Should we re-examine the views of the Austrian painter?"
The reactions in Washington were swift. House Speaker Mike Johnson called the campaign "disgusting" and declared that "antisemitism and open hatred toward Jewish communities have no place in our politics or in America." Democrat Hakeem Jeffries backed the remarks, adding that it is a "blatantly antisemitic campaign that shocks the conscience." Other senior Republicans joined the condemnations, including Senator Ted Cruz and the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee. Bilzerian, for his part, prides himself on not accepting funds from the AIPAC lobby and frequently speaks out on what he calls "the Jewish problem."
However, Congressman Fine's past is also not free of controversy. Fine, who took office after his predecessor, Mike Waltz, was appointed US Ambassador to the UN, is considered one of the most extreme pro-Israel voices on Capitol Hill. An ABC report noted that Fine has previously spoken harshly against Muslims and Palestinians. Among other things, he hinted that an atomic bomb should be dropped on the Gaza Strip, called Congresswoman Ilhan Omar a "Muslim terrorist," and wrote about New York City Council member Zohran Mamdani that he is a "jihadist who should be sent back to Uganda." Fine even faced harsh criticism when he claimed on social media that "if forced to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not difficult."
The confrontation in Florida provides a glimpse into the growing radicalization on the political fringes in the United States. Bilzerian, who supports ending all US aid to Israel, is not alone; he joins a series of far-right voices in Florida challenging the traditional alliance with Israel. Fine, in response to the campaign, called Bilzerian a "Nazi" and vowed to defeat him at the ballot box.
